By-pass type liner hanger



E. BURNS BY-PAss TYPE LINER HANGER Feb. 9, 1943.

Filed Sept. 26, 1941 Sheets-Sheet 1 :inventor: few/N 50e/ys,

(Ittomeg.

BY-PAss TYPE LINER HANGER 2 shets-sheet 2 Filed sept. 2.6, 1941 Srwentor: few/N 50e/Ys,

MMW-

Gttorneg.

Patented Feb. 9, 1943 Unirse STATES ansa 8 Claims.

This invention relates to oil well tools and particularly pertains to a by-pass type liner hanger, and is of the general construction shown in co-pending applications entitled Liner hanger, Serial No. 269,884, i'lled April 25, 1939, by Frank C. Boyd, Erwin Burns and Ford A. Pilgrim, now Patent No. 2,228,503, dated January 14, 1941, and Liner hanger, Serial No. 362,198, filed October 22, 1940, by Frank C. Boyd and Erwin Burns.

In the type of liner hangers disclosed in our pending applications aforementioned, a liner hanger structure is provided which includeshanging and setting means as well as a deformable packer, which may be manipulated when the liner is set to seal off the space between the liner and the surrounding casing wall. In connection with liner hanging operations it may be desirable to insure that uid circulation may take place optionally around the packer as the device is being lowered into the well bore, and also after the packer has been set in its expanded position within the well bore. This may be necessary in order to establish circulation to the bottom of the well bore for the purpose of cleaning out the debris which may have accumulated behind the liner and cleaning theA face of the geological formation in the producing zone of the well bore to insure free and copious flow of the connate production fluid. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a liner hanger carrying a pac-ker and having setting and releasing means and by-pass circulation ports around the packer, whereby the packer may be independently set, the liner structure may be optionally released, and the ports may be optionlally opened and closed to establish or interrupt fluidcirculation and to appropriately position the parts of the structure for production of the well.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a body structure supporting a liner and having a releasing hanger member connected therewith, the body structure carrying a packer adapted to be manipulated by the hanger structure, the said body structure being further designed to establish and interrupt a by-pass flow of fluid around the packer.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in central longitudinal section showing the liner hanger with its parts in their relative positions as would occur when the hanger is lowered into a well casing and with the by-pass circulation ports open.

Fig. 2 is a View in central longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1, and showing the liner hanger structure with the by-pass circulation ports closed.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line 3-3'of Fig. 2 and indicates the relationship of the moving parts of the structure and their ports.

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and shows the construction of the lead seal packer.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and shows the arrangement of the lower slip wedges.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing a lead seal pressure ring.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective showing the lead seal cage.

Fig. 8 is a View in elevation showing thel assembled tool with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the setting tool `as set in the casing and the supporting structure withdrawn. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I0 indicates a well casing which is set within a well bore II and within which a liner hanger I2 is mounted, the liner hanger including a square mandrel or stem I3 which is threaded into the lower end of a drill pipe joint I4. This stem is of square section and has a lower threaded end I5 which receives a nut I6. The nut I6 isA internally threaded at I'I and may receive the threaded end of a length of tubing through which circulation of fluid or cement may be forced downwardly into the liner. The square stem I3 extends through the nut I8 of the setting tool. This nut has a central bore therethrough of square section, as indicated at I9, through which the stem I3 may slide while positively engaging the nut to impart rotation thereto. The exterior surface of the lower cylindrical portion of the liner nut is formed with threads 20. 'Ihese threads are square left-hand threads. The upper length of the nut is cylindrical, as indicated at 2|, and has a cylindrical counterbore 22 above the squared stem opening I9. This cylindrical portion is exteriorly threaded at 23 to receive an annular bearing nut 24. The bearing nut has a lower shoulder forming a ball race 25 which rests upon an anti-friction bearing 26, here shown as being of the ball bearing type. The anti-friction bearing 26 rests upon the upper end face of a sleeve 21 of the setting tool. This sleeve is cylindrical and is formed at its lower end with a frustoconical face 28. A cylindrical bore 29 is formed in the sleeve and has a running t with relation to the upper cylindrical portion 2| of the nut I8. The lower end of this bore is counterbored and forms a square shoulder 3D which rests against a shoulder 3I at the upper end of the threaded section 20 of the nut I8. This restrains the sleeve 21 from longitudinal movement upon the extension 2| of the nut I8. Extending downwardly from the sleeve 21 are a plurality of separate slip engaging iingers 32 which are mounted on the outer circumference of the sleeve 21 and overhang the screw portion 20 of the nut I8. Four of these ngers are here shown and their purpose in the structure will be hereinafter described.

The liner hanger includes a tubular body 34 which is internally threaded at its upper end as indicated at 35, the threads being complementary to threads 23 on the nut I 8. The upper end of the body 34 is formed with an internally and downwardly tapered seat 36 which is complementary to the end face 28 of the sleeve 21. Slidably mounted upon the tubular body member 34 is a slip barrel 31 which ts over the body member 34 and rests against an annular shoulder 38 formed around the body member 34 at a point intermediate its length. The shoulder 38 provides a rest for the slip barrel 31 and holds the upper tapered end face 39 of the slip barrel in oblique alignment with the end face 36 of the body member 34. Formed within the cylindrical outer face of the slip barrel 31 are tapered guideways 40 which receive wickered slips 4I. These slips are Vdesigned to move upwardly and outwardly in the guideways 40 as urged by a plurality of springs 42 mounted at the heel of the slips. The upper end of each slip is formed with a nger 43 which extends along a longitudinal slot 44 and into which slot the fingers 32 of the sleeve 21 extend. The ngers 32 and 43 are in longitudinal alignment therefore, and when the sleeve 21 is in its lower most position force the slips downwardly and hold them retracted so that they will not grip the wall of the casing I until released.

The lower end of the slip barrel 31 is internally threaded as indicatedY at 45. This receives the upperthreaded end of a packer cage 46. It will beseen to have a substantially cylindrical body portion 41. This cylindrical body portion extends downwardly and is formed with a threaded pin portion 48 which receives a coupling 49 to which a well screen section 58 is secured. At a point in the length of the cylindrical portion 41 an enlarged shoulder I is formed. This shoulder has an upper tapered face 52 against which the lower tapered face 53 of a packing ring 54 may rest. The packing ring embraces the cylindrical portion 41 of the packer cage 46 and is formed at its upper edge with an outwardly tapered face 55 upon which a corresponding face of an expanding packer 56 may rest. The packer 56 embraces the packer cage and hasA an upwardly and 'outwardly tapered edge 51 against which an expanding ring58 rests. This ring has lugs 58 extending inwardly through slotted openings 46' in the wall of the cage and is engaged by the shoulder 38-at the top of the slotted openings 46. The packer cage 46,'as shown in Fig. 4, carries the packer 53. VThis packer is preferably made of lead-and forms a cylindrical wall within which the-portions of the cage between the slotted openings 46 occur. Thus, the packer has an inner packing surface resting against the tubular body member 34 and an outer packing surface which rests against the inner circumference of the well f cage when the packer has been set.

casing I0. The packer is expanded between the lower packing ring 54 and the upper packing ring 58. The upper packing ring 58 is formed with the inwardly projecting lugs 58' which engage the packing element 56 and force this element downwardly and expand the same. An auxiliary ring 58a connects lugs 58 and cooperates with ring 58. It will be evident that this action expands the packing member 56 inwardly against the tubular body 34 and outwardly against the well casing. The packing ring 53 with its lugs are welded to the tubular body member 31's at 34 so that the ring will move downwardly with the tubular body member. Attention is also directed to the fact that the lugs 58 sliding within the slots 46' will serve as keys to prevent relative rotation between the packer cage 4G and the tubular body 34.

Formed through the tubular body member 34 are by-pass ports 59 which may register with ports 60 formed through the wall of the slip bar rel 31. These ports occur above the packer. Formed through the wall of the cylindrical portion 41 of the packer cage 46 are ports 6I. The ports 6I are cut diagonally so that they extend downwardly and outwardly through the wall. These ports occur in a transverse plane between the plane occupied by the lower end of the tubular body 34 and the shoulder 5I when the tubular body 34 is in its uppermost position. Longitudinally tapered grooves are formed in the outer circumferential face of the tubular body 34. These grooves are so disposed as to register circumferentially with the longitudinally extending portions 66 of the packer cage 46. Thus. when the tubular body 34 moves downwardly within the packer cage 46 the grooves 65 will move downwardly. The back wall 61 of each of the grooves has a downwardly and outwardly tapering face against which wedge-shaped tapered slips 58 rest. These slips are wickered and have their teeth disposed to impinge against the inner surface of the slip cage and to prevent upward movement of the tubular body within the slip It will thus be evident that the tubular body 34 can only move downwardly with relation to the slip barrel 31 and the packer cage 46.

In operation of the present invention the structure is assembled as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and the liner 58 is attached to the lower end of the member 49 which is carried by the packer cage 46. The liner hanger is assembled with the nut I8 threaded into the tubular body 34 and the sleeve 21 in position resting upon the shoulder at the upper end of the tubular body 34 and the slip barrel 31. When the sleeve 21 is in its lowermost position the fingers 32 carried thereby will project into the longitudinal slots 44 of the slip barrel 31 and will engage the ends of the ngers 43 which are carried by the wiokered slips 4I. The sleeve 21 is of course held in its lowermost position by the nut I8 which is screwed into the tubular body 34 and engages the threads 35.

When it is desired to set the liner the tool with the liner is lowered into the well casing to a selected depth, after which the mandrel I3 is rotated sufficiently to elevate the nut I8 within the tubular body 34 to a point where the retraction of the fingers 32 will allow the wickered slips 4I to engage the wall of the casing I0. When this has been done the nut I8 may be completely retracted from the liner hanger and may be removed from the well with the pipe I4. This makes it possible to withdraw the wash pipe II which is carried upon the'nut I6 `at `the lower tubular end of the mandrel I3. After the wash pipe has been withdrawn from the well and removed from the lower end of the mandrel .I3 the mandrel I3 with the vnut I8 and the .sleeve ?.`Iv is again lowered into the well on the string of pipe I4 and the nut I8 is screwed into the threaded portion 35 of the tubular body 34 for a short distance. Weight is then placed on lthe mandrel I3 by the string of pipe I4 either inv a slow movement or in a jarring action. In either event this forces the tubular body 34 downwardly with relation to the slip barrel. 31 which has already been set in the casing and is being held by the wickered slips 4I.. Attention is directed to the fact that prior to this last operation the ports 59, 60 and 6I are all Aopen so that a by-pass of fluid could take place around the packer 55 and partially within the tubular body 3'4. When, however, the tubular body 34 is moved downwardly the port 59 will move downwardly and out of register with the port 60, and at `the same time the lower edges of lthe packing ring 54 and the tubular body 34 Awili move to a position over the port BI and close the same. The outer tapered face 53 of the packer ring 54 comes to register upon the tapered face 52 ofthe shoulder 5I. rhis shoulder is carried upon the lower extension of the packer cage 46 and is directly attached to the slip barrel 31 which is hung in the well by the vckered slips 4 I. It may be desirable to form the tapered face 53 of the packer ring 54 with a seal portion 53 formed of lead or the like. When the packer ring 54 has reached a seat on the tapered face 52y of the shoulder 5I further downward movement of the packer ring 54 is impossible. However, the tubular body 34 may continue to move downwardly under the force imparted from the -pipe string I4. In moving downwardly the packer ring 58 will move downwardly and will tend to distend the packer 55 to form a seal with the casing Ii). As the tubular body 34 moves downwardly with relation to the packer cage 46 the slips 63 will ride along the inner surface ofthe packer cage. When, however, the packer has been compressed to its desired position and weight is relieved from the tubular body 34 `the slips will Wedge along the tapered faces 51 of the recesses 65 and their teeth will impinge in the inner face of the packer cage 46, thus preventing the tubular body 34 from moving upwardly. The pipe string I4, the square mandrel I3, and the nut I8 may then be rotated to unscrew the nut I8 from the tubular body 34, and when the nut I8, the tubular mandrel I3 and the pipe string I4 are withdrawn from the well it will be seen that the liner will be set at a desired position within the well after having been lowered during a time when an eiective by-pass was made through the tool and around the packer.

kIt will also be seen that the packing element is disposed below the wickered slips and the point of engagement between the slips and the well casing, and that a rm and effective shut-01T will be created by the packing element 56 when expanded against the side wall of the casing.

Attention is directed to the fact that the wash pipe 'II may be used for washing purposes after the slips are set, and that in fact it is not necessary to remove the wash pipe structure and the supporting string I4 with the Kelly bar I3 but only to elevate it to a point where the slips will be set. It is also to be borne in mind that the packer is .notlnecessarily `set when the Vtubular body134 .is moved downwardly so 'that the ports `59 are out oi register 'with the .ports 60.

It will thus be :seen that by the structure here disclosed a well casing may be quickly set ina well and placed in producing position, and that it .may vbe effectively washed, and furthermore, that as it is lowered into the well fluid may Vbypass the .packer until such time as the Packer is set, .after which the 'packer will be `positively locked in a set position.

While vI have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it willY be understood that various changes Vmay be-made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

Having thus' described my invention, what I .claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liner hanger of the by-*pass type, comprising an elongated cylindrical sleeve from which a liner may be suspended, an expansible packer carried upon said sleeve, a slip barrel mounted on the sleeve, slips carried thereby yto engage the wall of a casing, an inner cylindrical body within the sleeve and slidable longitudinally thereof., releasable supporting means holding the body and the sleeve against relative movement, ports through the sleeve at opposite sides of the packer adapted to be open when the body and sleeve are in said held position, ports through the wall of the body and the slip barrel adapted to register when the sleeve ports are opened and to close when the sleeve ports are closed, means associated with said holding means whereby the slips will be held in their retracted positions until the body has relative movement with relation to the sleeve, and engaging means between the body and the sleeve acting upon relative movement between the sleeve and the body 'to lock the sleeve and the body 'together and to cause an expansive pressure to be imposed upon the packer.

2. A liner hanger of the by-pass type, comprising an elongated cylindrical sleeve from which a liner may be suspended, an expansible packer carried upon` said sleeve, a slip barrel mounted on the sleeve, slips carried thereby 'to engage the wall of a casing, an inner cylindrical body within the sleeve and slidable longitudinally thereof, releasable supporting means holding the body and the sleeve against relative movement, ports through'the sleeve at opposite sides of the packer adapted to be open when the body and sleeve are in said heldv position, ports through the wall of the body and the slip barrel adapted to register when the sleeve ports are opened and to close when the sleeve ports are closed, means associated with said holding means whereby the slips will be held in their retracted positions until the body has relative movement with relation to the sleeve, and engaging means between the body and the sleeve acting upon relative movement between the sleeve and the body to lock the sleeve and the body together and to cause an expansive pressure to be imposed upon the packer, said locking means acting upon relative downward movement of the body withir the sleeve and releasing upon relative upward movement.

3. A liner hanger of the by-pass type, comprising a cylindrical body, a tubular sleeve mounted thereon, a packer mounted upon the tubular sleeve, expansion means interposed between the sleeve and the packing element and by which the packer may be moved downwardly on 4the sleeve and expanded, a stop on the sleeve .the sleeve to engage a casing within which the structure is lowered and to hold the sleeve against downward movement, and releasable suspending means normally holding the sleeve and body member against relative movement and adapted to be detachably secured to the body.

'4. A liner hanger of the by-pass type, comprising a cylindrical body, a tubular sleeve mounted thereon, a packer mounted upon the tubular sleeve, expansion means interposed between the sleeve and the packing element and by which the packer may be moved downwardly on the sleeve and expanded, a stop on the sleeve limiting downward motion, interlocking means between the body and the expansion means whereby the body and expansion means may move downwardly together, means carried by the sleeve to engage a casing within which the structure is lowered and to hold the sleeve against downward movement,`and by-pass ports through the body and sleeve above and below the packer and whereby a by-pass of uid around the packer may take place when the body is in its uppermost position within the sleeve and will be prevented when the body is in its lowermost position upon the sleeve and the packer rests against the stop shoulder on the sleeve.

5. A liner hanger of the by-pass type, comprising a tubular cylindrical body member internally threaded at its upper end, a cylindrical4 sleeve embracing the body and slidable longitudinally thereon, slips carried by the sleeve to engage a casing into which the structure is lowered and to support the sleeve on the casing, releasable supporting means detachably engaging the body and holding the body and sleeve against relative movement, cooperating means between the supporting means and the slips acting to hold the slips in their retracted positions, a packer slidably mounted upon the sleeve for limited downward movement, normally open by-pass ports through the sleeve above and below the packer, cooperaitng means on the body to close said by-pass ports when the body is in its lowermost position within the sleeve, and means acting upon downward movement of the body within the sleeve to move the packer to its lowermost position and expand the'same within `the casing.

6. A liner hanger of the by-pass type, comprising an elongated tubular body member, a slip barrel carried onv the upper end thereof and telescoping thereover, wickered slips carried by the barrel and adapted to move outwardly to engage a well casing, a packer cage secured to the lower end of the slip barrel, a liner carried on the lower end of the packer cage, said elongated tubular body member limiting downward movement of the slip barrel and the packer cage with relation thereto and being free to move downwardly through said slip barrel and barrel cage, a deformable packer carried by the packer cage and overhanging the outer circumference of the same, a packer ring mounted on the cage at the lower overhanging end of the packer, a packer ring disposed around the cage and resting against the upper end of the packer, means securing the upper packer ring to the tubular body to move therewith independent of the packer cage, a by-pass opening through the packer cage at a point below the lower packer ring and the lower end of the tubular body and adapted to .be closed when downward movement of the tubular body and the lower packer ring takes place, a seat carried by a shoulder on the packer cage and against which the lower edge of the lower packer ring may rest when in its lowermost position, and by-pass openings in the tubular body and the slip barrel at a point above the packer cage, said openings being in register when the tubular body is in its uppermost position relative to the slip barrel, whereby a by-pass of uld around the packer may take place before the packer is set.

'7. The structure of claim 6 including locking means between the tubular body and the packer cage to lock the tubular body in its lowermost position with the packer set and the by-pass openings closed.

8. The structure of claim 6 including locking means between the tubular body and the packer cage to lock the tubular body in its lowermost position with the packer set and the by-pass openings closed, and detachable means from which the structure is suspended and by which the wickered slips are retained in a retracted position and released to grip a casing in which the structure may be set.

ERWIN BURNS. 

